‘The only way for us to be able to compete internationally, increase productivity and develop new technologies that work is to improve the skill base of our workforce,’ says Ross Anderson, Director of ICOM, the trade association representing the industrial and commercial heating equipment manufacturing sector.

He continued,

‘One way we can increase the skills within our industry is to invest in apprenticeships. But simply offering apprenticeships is not enough we need to attract young people to fill these roles and that is a more difficult proposition.

We need to change the ‘status’ of the qualification compared to a degree  – apprenticeships must not be seen as the ‘poor relation’ to university, they offer an effective way to ‘learn and earn’ at the same time.

In countries like Germany, a craft based qualification or work as an “engineer” is much sought after and highly respected. It is hardly surprising then that Germany is still seen as a country where manufacturing matters and they can compete in the world markets with their exports.’

During National Apprenticeship week 9^th – 13^th March ICOM will be highlighting the career profiles of current apprentices and those who started their careers via apprenticeships. View profiles here: http://icom.org.uk/article/235

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